Judith Owen – “Suit Yourself”

Judith Owen is a Welsh vocalist who has spent the better part of the last few years digging deep into jazz and blues, and not the obvious stuff. Her new album, Suit Yourself, came out on April 24th via Twanky Records, and the title track doubles as the album’s name, which tells you something about how confident she is in this project.

The album was recorded at Esplanade Studios in New Orleans, and that location makes total sense once you hear it. New Orleans is all over the DNA of this record. Judith brought her band the Gentlemen Callers along for the ride, plus the JO Big Band, and a few guests that are worth paying attention to. Guitarist Joe Bonamassa shows up on “Mind Is On Vacation”, New Orleans pianist Davell Crawford duets with her on “Today I Sing The Blues”, and the Tonya Boyd-Cannon Choir closes things out on “Inside Out”, which has a gospel pull to it that hits you in the chest.

Judith produced the album herself, and the mastering was handled by Misha Kachkachishvili, a Grammy winner based in New Orleans. That level of care in post-production shows. This doesn’t sound like a record that was slapped together. The tracklist covers a good range, from Aretha Franklin’s “Evil Gal Blues” to a big band “Moanin'” to the opener “That’s Why I Love My Baby,” which is smooth, confident, and a good introduction to where Judith is at right now as an artist.

If you want to keep up with what she’s doing next, follow her on Instagram. She’s got tour dates across the US and Europe running through the summer of 2026.